Thursday 11th September 2008

New '914' Mooted In VW-Porsche Plans

Rumours suggest spiritual successor to 914

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Beautiful original 914

With VW set to launch a new sportscar concept at the Los Angeles Auto show in November, speculation is mounting that the car could herald the revival of spiritual successor to the Porsche 914.

With Porsche now in the driving seat at VW, a report by Motor Trend in the US suggests that senior Porsche executives are showing a strong interest in the VW sports car project, heralding the possibility of a new collaboration in the same vein as the 914 sold by VW and Porsche from 1969 to 1976.

The new VW roadster is said to borrow heavily from the VW group parts bin to keep costs low, but the concept is built around a lightweight aluminium space frame chassis with a mid-mounted 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder engine – with petrol and diesel versions under consideration. Design work has been conducted under the auspices of VW’s styling chief Walter de’Silva.

The VW roadster project has been circulating for years in various guises, but the insiders are optimistic that a version of the L.A. Show car could be on sale by 2011.

If Porsche was to step in  with its own version of the roadster, it is likely to be powered by the 2.7 litre flat-six Boxster engine. However the original top-selling 914 was powered by a four cylinder engine, and a Porsche roadster with a version of VW’s engine is not outside the realms of possibility.

[LM-GTO]

Seems like a good plan to me, and I expect it'll be extrememly popular. (Depending on styling) Although it'll be poo pooed by small minded badge snobs like the original.